Isaac Ssejjombwe issejjombwe@ug.nationmedia.com
he government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Government of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 27, this year to implement a project dubbed, ‘Institutional capacity support of the National Farmers’ Leadership Centre (NFLC) phase II project in Kampiringisa, Mpigi District.
According to the agreement, KOICA will support a grant of $12M while the government of Uganda will make a $2M in-kind towards the accomplishment of the project.
The KOICA grant will support NFLC to
implement quality training through improving the efficiency of lecture and demonstration at the centre, improving the farm productivity, and construction of a multi-purpose training and accommodation facility.
On the other hand, the in-kind contribution from the Ugandan government will consist of the land for the construction, the staff time, and utilities to be used during the project period. The project will be implemented for a period of eight years from 2021 to 2028 with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) as the lead implementing partner.
The NFLC was established by KOICA and officially launched in May 2016, as the first agricultural leadership center not only in Uganda but in Africa to provide leadership training and mindset change for rural development leaders.
Since it was handed over to the Ugandan government in May 2017, the demand for NFLC services has exceeded the carrying capacity of the facilities which has continually put a strain on the facilities and management. Therefore, a second phase project was developed to enhance the training environment and capacity of NFLC.
The project is in alignment with the National Development Plan (NDP) III programme of community mobilization and mindset change which acknowledges the centre’s efforts towards mindset change. The Programme further recognizes that even with the efforts done by NFLC and other actors towards mindset change, more action is needed for the country to achieve social transformation hence the need for the NFLC phase II project.
Korea partners with Uganda to implement
farmers’ leadership project
The overarching goal of the project is to empower agricultural and rural development human resources capacity for agricultural competitiveness in Uganda. This goal will be achieved through construction of a multi-purpose training and accommodation facility; renovation and refurbishment of livestock, horticulture, and irrigation demonstration farms; capacity improvement of the NFLC administration; and facilitating the NFLC to self-develop training
Aerial view of part of the NFLC
modules.
About 3,000 public officials, farmer leaders, and farmers are expected to benefit directly from the project whereas rural communities will be the indirect beneficiaries from the project through improved service delivery and community initiatives solving persistent challenges in the agriculture sector.
Following the MoU signing, KOICA in partnership with MAAIF will prepare a project design report, which will detail the project implementation arrangements.
The project launch is expected by the end of 2021.
KOICA Country Director Mr. Kim Tae-Young expresses hope that through further improvement of NFLC, more farmer leaders would be empowered as they commit themselves to sustainable rural development of the nation, and that the partnership between Korea and Uganda would be strengthened through the sharing of experience, knowledge, and technology.
Through further improvement of NFLC, more farmer leaders will be empowered as they commit themselves to sustainable rural development of the nation, and that the partnership between Korea and Uganda will be strengthened through the sharing of experience, knowledge, and technology.
Local leaders training at NFLC
T
Mr. Kim Tae-Young KOICA Country Director
